Celebration of Gurupurnima – 10 July 2025

Report on the Celebration of Gurupūrṇimā

Organised by The Department of Sanskrit and Philosophy

Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute (RKMVERI)

The Department of Sanskrit and Philosophy, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute, celebrated Gurupūrṇimā in a grand and dignified manner on 10th July 2025 (Thursday). The programme commenced with a Vaidika Maṅgalācaraṇam felicitously rendered by Sri Sukamal Mandal.

Following the invocatory prayers, the assembly collectively chanted the first chapter of the Gurugītā (comprising 108 verses) from the Skandapurāṇa (Uttarkhāṇḍa). This chanting session was ably led by Sri Basudev Garai, a research scholar in the department. Subsequently, Shuvam Chakraborty, assisted by Dwijendu Hazra on Srikhol and Joy Mallick, Surajit Pramanik, Subhajit Jana in chorus, offered a soulful rendition of the famed Bengali composition Bhava-sāgara-tāraṇā-kāraṇa he, as a salutation to the Guru.

Dr. Sukhdev Bhatt, Assistant Professor in the department, recounted the renowned episode from the Śrīmad Bhāgavata Mahāpurāṇa, wherein the Avadhūta accepted 24 Gurus and drew invaluable life lessons from them. His lucid and enlightening narration in Hindi captivated the audience.

Following this, Sri Shuvam Chakraborty, accompanied by Dayamay Das on Tabla and Gyandeep Chatterjee, Dwijendu Hazra and Aditya Sarkar in chorus enthralled the gathering with an enchanting recitation of the Gurvaṣṭaka Stotra.

In accordance with the tradition of the Ramakrishna Mission—wherein the Parameśvara, the Supreme Lord, is revered as the Guru of all, manifesting His infinite spiritual potency through human forms whom we honour as Gurus—Sri Aneek Kumar Das, a research scholar of the department, elaborated upon related teachings from the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. He elucidated several contexts where Sri Ramakrishna expounded this profound doctrine.

The event culminated with a splendid musical presentation of the Gurupādukā Stotram, performed by Sri Subhadeep Das with instrumental accompaniment on the guitar.

As a gesture of gratitude and affection, the students of the department presented a heartfelt surprise to their teachers, felicitating them with bouquets of fruits, Uttarīya (ceremonial cloth), pens, and other tokens of appreciation.

A recording of the entire programme is available online at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vWzHQ997tk